Back to Church Sunday will feature joint service by downtown churches

Back to Church Sunday will feature joint service by downtown churches

While downtown churches "sacrifice their sacred hour" to step outside their church doors Sunday morning, other local churches hope to see their pews filled on National Back To Church Sunday.

An American Religious Identification Survey showed that 83 percent of American adults identify themselves as Christians. In contrast, a Barna Group survey indicated only about 20 percent of Americans attend church on any given Sunday.

"Everybody needs a little reminder," said the Rev. Howard Scott, pastor of Hwy. 54 Church of Christ. "We're encouraging our people to encourage others."

More than 60 percent of those who do not attend church say they would if invited by a friend or family member, Scott said.

With busy lives, it seems more difficult for believers to make the invitation these days, Scott said.

So the national day is simply "a reminder to do what we ought to do on a regular basis," he said. "It's a reminder we need to be together in a spiritual setting to encourage one another."

Expanding that concept, First United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church will hold a joint worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Miller Performing Arts Center.